State pensioners have 'one month left' to claim extra £330 a week

A one month warning for 880,000 pensioners has been issued to get an extra £330 a week and annual £300 Winter Fuel Payment. OAPs have just one month remaining to claim an extra £332 that will entitle them to receive an up to £300 Winter Fuel Payment.

The funds can be claimed by anyone over the age of 66 who are entitled to Pension Credit. 880,000 eligible people are believed to be missing out on Pension Credit, which is currently worth up to £218.15 a week if you are single or £332.95 if you are in a couple.

As long as claims are made by December 21, successful applicants can gain access to this year's Winter Fuel Payment. Pension Credit claims can be backdated by three months, so those who think they may be eligible still have a month to claim.

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Caroline Abrahams CBE, Charity Director at Age UK said: "We're deeply disappointed, but not surprised, that the vote to brutally means-test Winter Fuel Payment was passed today. As soon as the Government announced it was instructing its MPs to support it this was the inevitable result, but we would like to thank all those in every party who voted against the policy or abstained.

"There's been a lot of discussion about the Government's decision, but at heart Age UK's critique of their policy is really simple: we just don't think it's fair to remove the payment from the 2.5 million pensioners on low incomes who badly need it, and to do it so quickly this winter, at the same time as energy bills are rising by 10%.

"It is crystal clear that there is insufficient time to make any serious impact on the miserably low take-up of Pension Credit before the cold sets in this autumn, and the Government has brought forward no effective measures to support all those whose tiny occupational pensions take them just above the line to claim. It's true they have agreed to extend the Household Support Fund until April and they deserve some credit for that, but the HSF is an all-age fund that you have to apply for, so we know it will only help a small proportion of all the pensioners who will be in need as a result of their policy change.

"The Government has also tried to suggest that the increase in State Pension for older people next year as a result of the Triple Lock means there's no need to worry about how they will cope now, but that won't help anyone this winter and most pensioners will not benefit to the extent being suggested - either because they are on the old State Pension which attracts less of an increase, or because they don't qualify for a full State Pension in the first place."